Senior Director, Clinical Research, Atherosclerosis
Merck & Co. · Massachusetts
📍 USA - Massachusetts - Boston (MA Parcel B Laboratory)via workdayFirst listed here 2026-09-24
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Job Description
The Senior Director (Sr. Principal Scientist) has primary responsibility for the planning and directing clinical research activities involving new or marketed medicines in the Atherosclerosis section of the Atherosclerosis & Metabolism therapeutic area. Our company's Atherosclerosis & Metabolism medicines span all phases of clinical development (pre-clinical to post-licensure). The Senior Director will manage the entire cycle of late-stage clinical development and studies, including development strategy, study design, initiation, execution, monitoring, analysis, regulatory reporting, and publication.
Specifically, the Senior Director May Be Responsible For:
Evaluating pre-clinical and translational work for the purpose of generating early clinical development plans and Investigational New Drug applications;
Developing clinical development strategies for investigational or marketed Atherosclerosis drugs
Planning clinical trials (design, operational plans, settings) based on these clinical development strategies
Monitoring and managing the conduct of ongoing or new clinical trials for investigational or marketed Atherosclerosis drugs
Analyzing and summarizing the clinical findings from studies to support decisions regarding safety and efficacy as well as new drug applications, clinical study reports, or publication
Participation in internal and joint internal/external research project teams relevant to the development of new compounds, and the further study of marketed compounds.
Support of business development assessments of external opportunities
The Senior Director May:
Supervise the execution of clinical studies. Work closely with a cross-functional group of experts in commercialization, regulatory affairs, statistics, and manufacturing to manage clinical development projects; and assist the Executive Director and/or Associate Vice President in ensuring that appropriate Corporate personnel are informed of the progress of studies of our company and competitors' drugs, and of internal and external expert opinion on scientific questions relevant to his/her areas of responsibility.
The Senior Director is responsible for maintaining a strong scientific fund of knowledge by:
Maintaining awareness of scientific developments within his/her area of expertise, in terms of new scientific findings, research methodologies
Identifying scientifically and operationally strong investigators who can assist in the development of our company's investigational and marketed drugs
Establishing communications with prominent clinical investigators in his/her particular field of interest, particularly those who will be willing and able to assist in the evaluation of our company's drugs
Attending appropriate scientific meetings to maintain his or her competency and to maintain awareness of research activities in his/her area of responsibility.
To accomplish these goals, the Senior Director may:
Author detailed development documents, presentations, budgets, and position papers for internal and external audiences
Facilitate collaborations with external researchers around the world
Travel on company business about twenty (20) percent of the time to manage future or ongoing clinical research projects.
Qualifications
Education
M.D or M.D./Ph.D.
Required
Must have experience in industry or as senior faculty in academia
Minimum of 3 years experience in clinical medicine
Minimum of 3-5 year of industry experience in drug development or biomedical research experience in academia
Demonstrated success in overseeing clinical studies and protocols
Demonstrated record of scientific scholarship and achievement
Proven track record in clinical medicine and background in biomedical research
Strong interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to function in a team environment
Outstanding verbal and written communication and presentation skills
Preferred
Board Certified or Eligible in Cardiology (adult or pediatric), Endocrinology, or Nephrology or related discipline
Prior specific experience in clinical research and prior publication
Required Skills:
Atherosclerosis, Cardiology Clinical Research, Cardiovascular Diseases, Clinical Development, Clinical Studies, Clinical Trial Designs, Clinical Trials Monitoring, General Cardiology, Medical Monitoring, Medical Training, Pharmaceutical Industry, Pharmaceutical Medicine, Research Activities
Preferred Skills:
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